The Unforgiving Servant
Matthew 18:28
In 9 translations
- BSB
- But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe me!’A denarius was customarily a day’s wage for a laborer; see Matthew 20:2.
- KJV
- But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.
- WEB
- “But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him one hundred denarii, and he grabbed him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’100 denarii was about one sixtieth of a talent, or about 500 grams (1.1 pounds) of silver.
- ASV
- But that servant went out, and found one of his fellow-servants, who owed him a hundred shillings: and he laid hold on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay what thou owest.
- LSV
- And that servant having come forth, found one of his fellow-servants who was owing him one hundred denarii, and having laid hold, he took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that which you owe.
- YLT
- 'And, that servant having come forth, found one of his fellow-servants who was owing him an hundred denaries, and having laid hold, he took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that which thou owest.
- DBY
- But that bondman having gone out, found one of his fellow-bondmen who owed him a hundred denarii. And having seized him, he throttled him, saying, Pay [me] if thou owest anything.
- DRC
- But when that servant was gone out, he found one of his fellow servants that owed him an hundred pence: and laying hold of him, throttled him, saying: Pay what thou owest.
- GNV
- But when the seruant was departed, hee found one of his felow seruants, which ought him an hundred pence, and he layde hands on him, and thratled him, saying, Pay me that thou owest.
Word by word Greek · tap a word
Words in brackets are English the glossers added; the Greek has no word for them, and they can carry a choice of tense or meaning.
Where the editions differ
Editions are published forms of the Hebrew and Greek texts. Meet the editions and sources →
- NA28, NA27, Tyndale House, SBLGNT (2010), Westcott–Hort, Tregelles, Byzantine text read εἴ (“if”); Textus Receptus read ὁ (“what”).
Spelling, punctuation and minor wording (1)
- In STEPBible’s comparison, Textus Receptus, Byzantine text include μοι (“to me”); NA28, NA27, Tyndale House, SBLGNT (2010), Westcott–Hort, Tregelles do not include this wording.
SBLGNT apparatus (1)
A comparison of published Greek editions. “Add” means after the SBLGNT wording; “omit” refers to that wording.
- SBLGNT: Ἀπόδος. Westcott and Hort (1881), Tregelles, Nestle–Aland 28th edition read Ἀπόδος; Robinson–Pierpont add μοι.
Copyright 2010 by the Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software. CC BY 4.0.
Edition differences: STEP Bible, based on work at Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0). Names and codes expanded; consecutive words grouped. Comparisons follow the editions used by the source; see version details.
Original-language editions
- SBLGNT
- ἐξελθὼν δὲ ὁ δοῦλος ἐκεῖνος εὗρεν ἕνα τῶν συνδούλων αὐτοῦ ὃς ὤφειλεν αὐτῷ ἑκατὸν δηνάρια, καὶ κρατήσας αὐτὸν ἔπνιγεν λέγων· Ἀπόδος εἴ τι ὀφείλεις.
- RP2018
- Ἐξελθὼν δὲ ὁ δοῦλος ἐκεῖνος εὗρεν ἕνα τῶν συνδούλων αὐτοῦ, ὃς ὤφειλεν αὐτῷ ἑκατὸν δηνάρια, καὶ κρατήσας αὐτὸν ἔπνιγεν, λέγων, Ἀπόδος μοι εἴ τι ὀφείλεις.
- TR-Boyd
- Ἐξελθὼν δὲ ὁ δοῦλος ἐκεῖνος εὗρεν ἕνα τῶν συνδούλων αὐτοῦ, ὃς ὤφειλεν αὐτῷ ἑκατὸν δηνάρια, καὶ κρατήσας αὐτὸν ἔπνιγε, λέγων, Ἀπόδος μοι ὅ τι ὀφείλεις.
- SCR1894
- εξελθων δε ο δουλος εκεινος ευρεν ενα των συνδουλων αυτου ος ωφειλεν αυτω εκατον δηναρια και κρατησας αυτον επνιγεν λεγων αποδος μοι ο τι οφειλεις
Who and where
◆ Teachings on Humility/Temptation/Reconciliation
People, places and events the Theographic dataset links to this verse.
In the reference works topics that cite this verse
PennyForgivenessStrangledDenariusDebtorCharitablenessForgiveness of InjuriesCreditorKingdom of HeavenDebt; Debtor
From public-domain Bible dictionaries and topical indexes (1884–1915).
Cross-references most cited first
- Matthew 20:2He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.
- Ezekiel 45:9For this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Enough, O princes of Israel! Cease your violence and oppression, and do what is just and right. Stop dispossessing My people, declares the Lord GOD.’
- Deuteronomy 15:2This is the manner of remission: Every creditor shall cancel what he has loaned to his neighbor. He is not to collect anything from his neighbor or brother, because the LORD’s time of release has been proclaimed.
- Isaiah 58:3“Why have we fasted, and You have not seen? Why have we humbled ourselves, and You have not noticed?” “Behold, on the day of your fast, you do as you please, and you oppress all your workers.
- Nehemiah 10:31When the people of the land bring merchandise or any kind of grain to sell on the Sabbath day, we will not buy from them on a Sabbath or holy day. Every seventh year we will let the fields lie fallow, and will cancel…
- Nehemiah 5:7and after serious thought I rebuked the nobles and officials, saying, “You are exacting usury from your own brothers!” So I called a large assembly against them
- Nehemiah 5:10–11I, as well as my brothers and my servants, have been lending the people money and grain. Please, let us stop this usury. Please restore to them immediately their fields, vineyards, olive groves, and houses, along with…
From the OpenBible.info cross-reference set (votes from readers; not every link is a quotation or allusion).